Critics are blasting the Oscar winner for being politically incorrect at a political fete last night after he let loose a hot-button zinger while hosting a Barack Obama fundraiser that featured Michelle Obama as a guest.

That hasn't stopped the president's Republican rivals from chiming in.

While on the campaign trail, Newt Gingrich said, "I do want to say one thing, both on behalf of my wife and on behalf of Karen Santorum and on behalf of Ann Romney, I think that Robert De Niro's wrong...I think the country is ready for a new first lady, and he doesn't have to describe it in racial terms."

Santorum, however, was dismissive of De Niro. "It's just someone from Hollywood or someone from the entertainment industry just spouting off as they do," he said. "The idea of looking at politics through eyes of race should be over...I don't know where he thinks he's coming from."